Medical malpractice cases can be emotionally draining and stressful. It is crucial for patients to prioritize their emotional well-being and surround themselves with a support network that includes trusted family, friends and legal professionals instead of relying on social media for support during this time.
Engaging in social media while pursuing a medical malpractice claim may expose patients to negative comments, unsolicited advice and additional stressors. If you are pursuing a medical malpractice case, it is also important to avoid social media – which is unquestionably easier said than done for many people – until your case is fully resolved. Anything you post could be used to undermine the strength of your case.
Key Motivations To Keep In Mind
If you’re ever struggling to stay off of social media, keep these following motivations at the forefront of your mind:
- Protecting the integrity of the case: Information shared on social media platforms can be used as evidence and may potentially be misconstrued or used against a patient. Defense attorneys may search for any information that could weaken a patient’s claim or undermine their credibility. By staying off social media, patients can avoid inadvertently providing ammunition to the opposing party.
- Preserving privacy and confidentiality: Social media platforms are public spaces, and even if privacy settings are in place, there is no guarantee that information shared will remain confidential. By refraining from social media, patients can better protect their privacy and keep sensitive details of their case from becoming public.
- Avoiding misinterpretation and misrepresentation: Social media posts can be easily misinterpreted or misrepresented. Even innocent or unrelated posts can be taken out of context and used against a patient’s credibility. Any inconsistencies or contradictory information found on social media can be used to challenge the patient’s claims.
Staying off social media can be tough. However, for all these reasons and more, it is an effort worth your energy during this consequential time. Having sound legal guidance can help you avoid these and other potentially unwise moves that could harm your case.